U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has listed Roberto Bazan-Salinas on its Most Wanted list for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
According to ICE, Bazan-Salinas, also known as Beto, is a citizen of Mexico associated with the Cartel del Golfo. The public record states his place of birth as Mexico, his last known location as Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, and the charge against him under Homeland Security Investigations.
The Department of Justice reports that the Gulf Cartel controls drug trafficking through northeast Mexico and is the dominant organization for maritime smuggling to South Texas. Operations are based in cities including Matamoros, Tamaulipas. Conflicts between the Gulf and Sinaloa Cartels have led to high levels of violence in the region. San Antonio serves as a transshipment center for cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and methamphetamine smuggled from Mexico.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection reports a 37 percent increase in methamphetamine seizures from July to August, amounting to over 55,000 pounds of drugs seized in August. Seizures of cocaine increased by 35 percent from 2024 to 2025, while marijuana and heroin seizures continued to decline. August marked the third-highest monthly total of drug seizures under the second Trump Administration.
ICE was created on March 1, 2003, as part of the Department of Homeland Security following the September 11 attacks. It absorbed functions from the Immigration and Naturalization Service and U.S. Customs Service, granting it a unique combination of civil and criminal authorities to protect national security and public safety.
